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Civil society does exist, and anyone who says the opposite is either cynical or has a specific reason for making such a claim; but if you take the view that civil society does not exist, you can make it go away.

Timothy Snyder, Historian, Yale University and member of the Centre Board

In many post-Soviet countries we are witnessing a backlash against democracy and civil society. It is ever more important to support those determined to continue to work in this new repressive reality and speak up against violations of civic and human rights in their countries. The Prague Centre is set up to assist them in their struggle.

Jacek Kucharczyk, President, Institute of Public Affairs (Warsaw) and member of the Centre Board

I believe the Prague Civil Society Center will play a key role in a democratic transformation of the post-Soviet space. A timely and important initiative!

With digital technology becoming an important part of our lives, it is vital that civil society organizations make the most of what technology has to offer. I look forward to the Centre's work.

Douglas Arellanes, Director of Innovation, Sourcefabric (Prague) and member of the Centre Board

The Prague Civil Society Centre has been set up to empower civil societies across Eastern Europe and Central Asia in their quest for open society and respect for the rule of law, human rights and dignity. Using both innovative and traditional approaches, the Centre seeks to promote cooperation, trust and solidarity both within countries’ civil societies and across the borders as we believe this is key to the region’s better future.

What we do

We assist civil society in Eastern Europe and Central Asia covering all post-Soviet countries except the Baltic states.
We work with human rights and environmental organizations, activist groups, independent lawyers, online activists, researchers, journalists, bloggers, artists, documentary filmmakers and other creative professionals who strive to create an open society and promote the values of rule of law, human rights and dignity in their countries.
While we pay special attention to the young generation of civil society, we are proud to work with organizations that have significant track record in their countries.

Key Principles

Innovations. We support our partners in searching for new strategies and implementing innovative information technologies. We appreciate innovative approaches and daring solutions.

Flexibility. Taking into account the difficult and unstable situation in many countries of the region, we are building flexible working schemes and adapting them quickly to the changing conditions and the needs of its partners.

Local Expertise. All programs of the Centre are designed and implemented in cooperation with our local partners who have valuable experience and deep understanding of the situation. Where possible, we also prioritize working with regional experts.

Cross-sector. We promote cooperation between different sectors of society such as activists and civil society organizations, journalists and bloggers, creative professionals, academia, technical experts and others because cross-sector links strengthen civil society.

Cross-border. We promote cooperation between different countries in the region because we believe that networks of cooperation, trust and solidarity are key to overcoming future challenges in the region.

Key Functions

Capacity-Building. We both implement our own programmes and support initiatives from our partners, in particular in public communications and campaigns, information and physical security, use of multimedia and ICT in civic activities, strategic planning, management and fundraising. In addition, we organize international meetings, workshops and training seminars in order to foster exchange and cooperation. Through the capacity building programme, the Centre also helps organizations to find partners and the best experts within the region as well as beyond its borders.

Transitions Programme. Through establishing a new master's programme, introducing a series of short-term courses, fellowships, lectures and debates, we’re trying to create a community of experts, scholars and activists from various fields. With their experience and research, the community will be able to serve as resource for reform processes across the region.

Grantmaking. We are gradually introducing several grant schemes for civil society in the region aimed at civic-minded organizations, groups and initiatives.

Due to our recent establishment, we are now piloting our first activities. Full operation in all of the three functions is expected after December 2016.

Prague Talks

The Prague Talks is a new platform for renowned experts and activists working in and on post-Soviet countries to present original research, first-hand experiences and fresh perspectives. The Prague Talks is organised as a lecture-discussion series on issues dealing with social, political and economic changes in the post-Soviet countries. They are held in Prague in cooperation with the Faculty of Arts of the Charles University and with the Východoevropský klub. They are open to the wider public.

Weaponizing the Media - a debate with Zhanna Nemtsova

Film screening and debate with Russian journalist Zhanna Nemtsova at the Rectorate of the Charles University on 11 May 2016.

Want to know how propaganda works in Russia? What kind of information do the Russians get on TV and the internet? Join the event and debate with Zanna Nemtsova, Russian journalist and daughter of murdered Russian activist Boris Nemtsov, on May 11 at 6pm in the Blue Hall of the Rectorate of the Charles University. Organized by the Prague Civil Society Centre in collaboration with the Faculty of Arts of Charles University and the Východoevropský klub. The debate will be held in English with Czech translation.

About

The Prague Civil Society Centre has been set up to empower civil societies across Eastern Europe and Central Asia in their quest for open society and respect for the rule of law, human rights and dignity. Using both innovative and traditional approaches, the Centre seeks to promote cooperation, trust and solidarity both within countries’ civil societies and across the borders as we believe this is key to the region’s better future.

Aiming to become a modern, dynamic and flexible hub for civil society from all over the region, the Centre sticks to a broader understanding of civil society that includes non-governmental organizations but also new (often online-based) citizen initiatives or bloggers as well as creative professional groups such as journalists, independent filmmakers, artists, and opinion makers, researchers or thinkers.

Launched in February 2015, the Centre will become fully operational after December 2016.

The Board

Šimon Pánek

Co-founder and Executive Director of the Czech NGO People in Need and is Chair of the Board

Jacek Kucharczyk

President of the Institute of Public Affairs, one of Polands leading think tank

Maria Dahle

Executive Director of the Human Rights House Foundation and is Deputy Chair of the Board

Timothy Snyder

Professor of History at Yale University, specializing in the political history of Central and Eastern Europe and the Holocaust

Tanya Lokshina

Russia Programme Director and a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch in Moscow

Douglas Arellanes

Co-founder and Director of Innovation of ”Sourcefabric”, a Czech NGO providing independent media assistance through technology

Human Right House Foundation

To date, the Centre's donors include the C. S. Mott Foundation, the Oak Foundation, the United States Government, the Government of Sweden and the Government of the Czech Republic. Other international donors are expected to become involved during the development period.

Launch

The Prague Civil Society Centre was officially launched in Prague on 19 February 2015 by a panel discussion titled „Between Apathy, Activism and Arrest: New Challenges in Supporting Post-Soviet (Civil) Society“.

Opening the event, Šimon Pánek, Director of the Czech NGO People in Need, one of three founding organizations, said the Prague Civil Society Centre was set up to support, train and interconnect established NGOs as well as more informal civic initiatives across the target area.

The international panel included Maria Dahle, executive director of the Oslo-based Human Rights House Foundation, another of the Prague Centres three founding organizations; Maria Tomak, co-founder of the Ukrainian Euromaydan SOS initiative; Emin Milli, founder and director of the Azerbaijani exile online television station Meydan TV.

Presenting tools and aims of the Prague Centre, Director Rostislav Valvoda underlined that the Centre would support civil society in the widest sense. In addition to traditional NGOs, it would reach out to informal, often online-based citizen initiatives as well as individual bloggers, filmmakers, artists or independent researchers. The aim was to facilitate cross-border cooperation and knowledge-sharing in pursuit of the values of openness, tolerance, rule of law, and human rights and dignity.

Round table

On February 24, 2016 the Prague Civil Society Centre presented itself to a wider Brussels audience with a panel-discussion on “Supporting Civil Society under shrinking space in Eastern Europe and Eurasia” hosted by the European Endowment for Democracy (EED).

Opening the debate on new challenges for civil society in Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia, Šimon Pánek, chair of the Prague Centre's board, underlined an “urgent need to support activists working on the ground”. EED Executive Director Jerzy Pomianowski called for more organisations to work in favour of democracy support. “There cannot be too many supporters of civil society and democracy.”

The debate focused on new tasks for the donor community in the EU and beyond and the importance of new actors and mechanisms to respond to the “shrinking space” in the region and maintain a long term vision for social change and development.

Management

Vacancies

The Prague Civil Society Centre is currently looking for candidates to join its growing multi-national team. If there are no suitable positions, but you would like to express your interest in working with the Centre, please feel free to send a copy of your CV and details of your experience and positions you would be interested in to jobs@praguecivilsociety.org.

Open Positions

Programme Officer

Learning and research programmes

Background

The Prague Civil Society Centre is looking for a Transitions Programme Officer to join a multi-national team, based in Prague, working on civil society in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The Centre’s mission is to empower civil society actors across Eastern Europe and Central Asia in their quest for open societies and respect for the accountable and responsive political institutions, rule of law, human rights and dignity. In the face of recent trends undermining civil society in the post-Soviet region, the Centre was launched in 2015 to nurture and support both established and emerging organisations and bring together active citizens from a diverse set of backgrounds. We work with human rights and environmental organisations, activist groups, independent lawyers, online activists, researchers, scholars, journalists, bloggers, artists and creative professionals. The Centre serves as a hub for civil society activists from all over Eastern Europe and Central Asia, helping to create new networks and partnerships so individuals across the region can share their experience, knowledge and expertise.

The Transitions Programme is the learning and research component of the Centre, aimed at stimulating critical, fact-based, collaborative and strategic thinking on solutions for the future of the region. By offering to the democracy activists from the post-Soviet region opportunities for learning, critical reflection, dialogue, research, experience sharing and knowledge dissemination, the aim is to develop ideas for future reforms and foster a community of regional experts, scholars and experienced practitioners in various policy areas who are capable, committed and prepared to engage in reforms when the window of opportunity opens.

Primary Tasks & Responsibilities

The Transitions Programme Officer will:

Work in close coordination with the Programme’s Director to develop and manage the Transitions Programme

Undertake mapping and analysis of the initiatives and work of relevant democracy activists and civil society players, think tanks, researchers and academic institutions

Assist the selection and implementation process for the Centre’s internships, scholarships and research grants

Maintain communication with potential and existing partners

Draft and evaluate project proposals and draft reports

Collaborate with the Finance Manager on budgets for individual projects

Represent the Transitions Programme and the Centre at external meetings and forums

Travel to the region is to be expected. The Coordinator should be ready and able to travel relatively often.

Qualification & Requirements

We are seeking highly-motivated candidates with knowledge and interest in East Europe and post-Soviet affairs, alongside a broad understanding of the democratisation process and strong organisation skills. In particular, the candidate should possess:

Master’s degree in international affairs, political/social sciences, international development, human rights, languages or another relevant area

At least two years’ experience at national or international level in the area of civil society, human rights, or international development, preferably with demonstrable progress in terms of individual responsibilities

Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Russian. Native or non-native knowledge of Czech is also welcome, but not essential

Good understanding of political issues and trends in the region of the former Soviet Union

General understanding of closed societies, civil society issues, and familiarity with civil society networks and individual activists in the region

Understanding and knowledge of the history of the post-Soviet region and/or of democratization processes over the last 30 years is highly welcome

In-country experience in Eastern Europe or the former Soviet Union is preferred

Experience with programmatic and financial management and reporting is an advantage

How to Apply

Interested candidates are encouraged to send their application letter (up to 1 page) and CV in English to igor@praguecivilsociety.org. Please put "Programme Officer" in the email subject line.

The deadline for applications is 15 January 2017.

Unfortunately, due to the high number of applicants, we are only able to contact candidates who have been selected for an interview. Shortlisted candidates will have been contacted by the end of February.